Random thoughts and ramblings of an avid cyclist, bike shop owner and mechanic, lover of the outdoors, etc.

Saturday, May 17, 2008

Bike to Work Day 15 seconds of not-quite-fame

Well, a local news channel came to the Vienna "pit stop" yesterday and shot some footage and talked to some folks. And that gave me a tiny little moment of near-fame. Watch the clip closely, and you'll see a moment of my hand turning someone's cranks... and a guy being interviewed saying "he's getting really greasy..." well, I'm the "he" being referred to.

One other funny thing... the two moments have nothing to do with each other, and took place about a half an hour apart. The guy who talks about me getting greasy had some issues with his brakes which I was fixing as he said that... and the cranks being turned were on another person's bike later in the day. The wonders of editing.

Also, the man identified at "Pit Stop Manager" is none other than my boss and owner of Bikes@Vienna, John Brunow. You will find few folks more enthusiastic about bringing cycling to more people than John. While he's not a firebrand sort of radical advocacy type, he quietly goes about bringing more and more people into the joys of cycling every day.

Me at the 2009 Brompton World Championship

About Me

I'm a fiftysomething guy who loves bicycles and just about everything related to bicycles. I used to work in the field of theatrical technical production (scenery and lighting, primarily), but in the last 5 years have begun a career in the bicycle industry. I'm now the owner of bikes@vienna, a small, independent bike shop in Vienna, VA, that specializes in what other shops don't carry... specifically, recumbents and folding bikes. We also cater to folks with special needs who want to enjoy the outdoors on two or three wheels. When I'm not riding or working on bikes, I enjoy hiking and other outdoor activities, as well as reading and just hanging out with my cat.

What will you find here?

In general you can expect to see observations about what's going on in my life, as well as information and thoughts related to bicycles and bicycle repair and construction. I also seem to write a lot about Tybalt, my cat, or so I have been told.

What's with the name?

Well, I chose "Spokes of a Wheel" for several reasons... First, because I love bicycles, and in particular, the bicycle wheel. They are just amazing works of technology and art, in my opinion. Second, in a typical bicycle wheel, spokes radiate outward from a center, and cross and touch each other as they do... kinda like people, no? Finally, I am a native of the DC area, and I have always found it humorous that people try to explain the street "system" there as "like spokes in a wheel". Look at it sometime... or better yet, drive it, and tell me where you've seen such a bizarrely spoked wheel!